Somehow Michael Beasley ended the first half of Kansas State's game with Western Illinois on Saturday night with just five points. Sure, he also had 10 rebounds, but it was far from the type of performance fans have already come to expect from their superstar freshman. Then the second half started, and Beasley ended K-State's 77-64 win over Western Illinois at Bramlage Coliseum with 28 points and 22 rebounds.

That's more like it, Mr. Beasley, even though it was the first time in his short three-game college career that he had not exceeded 30 points and 20 rebounds in a game.

"He's playing phenomenal, obviously," K-State senior point guard Clent Stewart said. "He regrouped after the first half. He came out the second half and played his heart out."

Even in his greatness, it was an off night for the Wildcats' freshman star -- no, seriously -- just as it was for the entire K-State team. K-State coach Frank Martin did not hide his feelings about the effort following the game, even if his Wildcats are now 3-0 on the season.

"We were an embarrassment to Kansas State tonight. We embarrassed the game of basketball, we embarrassed our university and we embarrassed our fans by the way we lined up and competed tonight," Martin said. "I'm the guy getting paid around here to prepare our team to play, and when we play the way we did, it's my fault. It's not their fault. They're young kids. It's my job."